Football fans in the United States need not worry that Lionel Messi will treat his new Inter Miami venture as a vacation. So says Argentinian Gerardo Martino, who was appointed club coach on Wednesday.
“Sometimes we associate the United States, and Miami in particular, with vacations. But they are players who want to perform and compete,” Martino said of fellow countryman Messi and Spaniard Sergio Busquets. Martino worked with both players ten years ago at FC Barcelona. He was also the Argentine national coach for a time.
Martino is at Inter Miami, the club of former England international David Beckham, successor to the sacked Phil Neville. “I always found it a challenge,” Martino said. “I believe the American football league is constantly changing. You can see that in the great American players who are now playing football in Europe.
Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut on July 21 in a League Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul.
Free and unlimited access to Showbytes? That can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss anything from the stars.
“Introvert. Avid gamer. Wannabe beer advocate. Subtly charming zombie junkie. Social media trailblazer. Web scholar.”